1854 (17th June) stampless outer entire, Official Mail to the PMG, with 'PAID/JU17/1854/MELBOURNE' struck in red and No. '14' butterfly handstamp struck in red alongside. The butterfly handstamp was used in 1854-55 as a receiving mark on Official Mail. Some age spots, otherwise fine and scarce

1855 (1st June) envelope (roughly opened at left) from Battersea U.K. to Melbourne ("To be left at the Post Office till called for"), 'SHIP LETTER/FREE/AU 27/1855/GPO VICTORIA' arrival handstamp in red on reverse. 'ADVERTISED/AND/UNCLAIMED' in black and large '1d' applied in red, the envelope returned to the U.K. and to the sender inside a 'Returned Paid Letter' envelope (some staining). Interesting contents refers to the Crimean War "the Allies are still beseiging (sic) Sebastapol every time the Russians attempt to meet us in the open field they are completely routed and cut to pieces"! Unusual and scarce

1860 (10th Apr) 'REGISTERED LETTER' receipt for a letter addressed from U.K. to 'Geelong Road/Footscray/Victoria' with Old Cavendish Street incoming and outgoing datestamp. A rare survivor - the only example to Victoria we have recorded

1862 (24th Oct) cover from Talbot to Hamburg carried aboard ill-fated "Colombo", which sank off the Laccadives, showing superb strike of 'Saved from the wreck of/the Colombo.' Eight covers from this wreck recorded for Victoria, this being the only example to a destination other than U.K.